Electrode Fabrication - NSF/ERC Core Unit B.2

The Electrode Fabrication Core Unit of the Duke/NC NSF Engineering Research Center in Emerging Cardiovascular Technologies focuses on the development and fabrication of plunge, surface, and three-dimensional electrode arrays for measuring biopotentials. This core unit is adapting existing semiconductor and microelectronics technology to produce the arrays needed for potential electrodes in basic arrhythmia studies and as mounting substrates for ionselective and bio-selective chemical sensors. VISION AND SIGNIFICANCE The purpose of the Electrode Fabrication Core Unit B.2 is to use integrated-circuit technology in the design, fabrication, and testing of novel microelectrode arrays needed to support research in cardiovascular technologies, such as for the Bioelectric Stimulation Unit 1.1 to detect in-vivo post ventricular fibrillation of the myocardium. The core is also building substrates for Core B.l Chemical Sensors and Unit 1.2B Vascular Diagnostic Systems. The technological focus of this core is to introduce, advance, and integrate existing technologies in the semiconductor and microelectronics industries in their application toward the design and fabrication of new electrode structures. By optimizing collaborations with other centers and industry, we expect to extend the state-of-the-art in cardiac sensor technology by demonstrating reliable, mass producible sensors for cardiac potentials and ionic metabolites with major applications in implantable defibrillators and cardiovascular monitoring.